Parachute supporting device



Feb. 15, 193 8. s. o. c. KUHLEMANN ET AL 2,108,491

PARACHUTE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l "Milli! I ve/v Ana,

.0 (f ffu/amqrm 7" a fi fundalm Feb. 15, 1938. s. o. c. KUHLEMANN ET AL 2,108,491

PARACHUTE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0.112 :ma'nn g, g oz znd'ha m W %M ?W w g-5] s. o c. KUHLEMANN ET AL 2,108,491

Feb. 1, 1938.

PARAGHUTE SUPPORTING DEVICE v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1936 s mg 8 MM? an; ,m c'. AA/sm a 5K 05?! ba/m l atente Fe. l, l3

PARACH U'EE SWFURTHNG DEVICE Stig llve Christian Kuhlemann and Carl Her= man Lundholm, Stockholm. Sweden, assignors to Carl M. Lnndholm, Allrtlcbolag, Stockholm,

Sweden, a joinbstoclr company ct Sweden Application September 8, 1936, Serial No. 99,802 in Sweden September at, 1935 r can. con. 2424 -1151) The present invention relates to supporting devices for parachutes. A number of supporting devices for parachutes are already known. In air forces of certain countries so called life belts lease device in such a manner that the same movement which; causes release of the shoulder straps also causes release of the leg straps, the

latter being preferably released a moment before the shoulder straps.

The principal object of the present invention is to remove all the above said drawbacks and to provide a parachute supporting device or harness combining a rapid release of the wearer shot in war time.

It is of importance thatthe release of the difierent straps from the central release device and from the side release devices does not meet too great a resistance, and that said release can 5 with strap across the one shoulder are in use. whenlanding or descending into water, with the 5 In other countries again so called harnesses are greatest possible comfort for the wearer while employed. The harnesses may be provided with removing any risk of causing the wearer. injury one or more straps running under the seat of before and after the landing. the wearer and also with two straps extending Another object of the invention is to proover the shoulders, so called shoulder straps, and vide a parachute supporting device having a 10 finally with two straps fastened to the seat strap central release device and/or siderelease devices and running upwards between the legs of the of new and useful design.

"wearer, so called leg straps. 'In an old type of With regard to the central release device it harnesses the leg straps are fastened to straps has proved to be advantageous to provide same running at the outside of the thighs by means with a slide or the like for the transmission of 15 of snap hooks, whereas the shoulder straps are power therefrom to the side release devices dor held together with a waist strap by another snap the actuation of the latter. This sliding means hook. may be actuated by'a leverage or a cog wheel 'In the last'few years, however, harnesses have device by means of which, on the actuation of come into use in which both the shoulder straps the central release device, a pull is exerted in 20 and the leg straps areheld together by a single wires or other members connecting said central I looking and release device. Hereby a rapid redevice with the side release devices and adapted lease from the harness ispossible which is of to actuate locking bolts or similar devices progreat importance especially when landing in vided in the latter devices. Springs or the like strong wind or descent into water. In harnesses ma'y be provided to maintain said locking bolts 25 of this type the arrangement of the leg straps or similar devices in looking position. has proved to present the most 'dimcult prob- The central release device may be actuated lem. According to one proposal the leg straps by a handle, knob or similar means which on extend principally straightly from the seat strap the one hand is reliably secured in its position between the legs of the wearer to the central of. rest, but, on the other hand can be easily 30 release device, which arrangementiis very ungrasped, even if the wearer has thick gloves comfortable and may even present grave risks on. For'theactuation of the central release deto the wearer in jumping. In order to remove vice it is also possible to make an outer casing this drawback the leg straps are according to thereof turnable, in which case, however, a reanother proposal carried to the side by addileasable securing means must be provided. 35 tional straps, which arrangement, no doubt, has For the engagement of the shoulder straps the been the best solution of this problem so far. central release device may be'provided with pawls In order to enable the leg straps to slide smoothly engaging snap hooks of said straps, or with lookthrough the said additional straps it is, however, ing pistons engaging openings 'in fittings prodll necessary that the harness is under tension, 'vided at the ends of the shoulder straps. Also 40 i which is mostly but not always the case during the side release devices may be provided with landing. locking pawls or claws, and they may be adapted In order to efiect a rapid release from. the harto be provisionally fastened to any adjacent ness on landing, the same is provided with a part of the supporting. device, e. g. by means 4.5 centrally placed locking and release. device of snap hooks; It may be observed that snap (central release device) and in addition therehooks used in combination with the central reto with additional releasable locking devices lease device and/or the side release devices have (fside release devices") for [holding the leg the advantage that they may be'released manstraps to the sides. The latter devices are acually which is of importance, if for some reatuated by special means from the central re-- son or other such a device is destroyed, e. g. by a take place independent of the direction in which the manoeuvring member of the devices is actuated. Of course, any unintentional actuation of said release devices must be impossible.

The invention can be applied to supporting devices of various kinds. Thus it can be used in combination with so called life belts provided with seat straps and leg straps, or with harnesses of the kind described above. The harnesses can either be fitted with shoulder straps which extend directly from the suspension after the jump are spaced the head of the wearer thereby eliminating the risk of injury. For these reasons such harnesses are very suitable especially for military purposes.

The invention is illustrated by way of example.

on the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a view of a harness having a central release fastening device as strap release devices.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a central release device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional in Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 in Fi 5.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a side release device.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of this embodiment.

Figs. '7 and 8 are sectional views of further emview along the line 3-.-3

J bodiments of a side release device.

' designate supporting straps for the According to Fig. 1 reference numerals III and parachute extending downwardly to form a strap it running under the seat of the wearer. l3 and I4 are shoulder straps havingtheir ends for placement at the front of the wearer and adapted to extend over the shoulders of the wearer to the back of the wearer and thence downwardly to be fastened to the seat strap l2. Each of the shoulder straps l3 and M has an adjustable connection l5 and I6, respectively, with the corresponding supporting straps l and I I. At the ends of the shoulder straps which are placed at the front of thewearer said straps carry each a snap hook l1, l8 for the connection with a central release fastening device IS. 28 and 2| are thigh straps which in the embodiment shown are carried under the seat of the wearer and through loops 22 and 23 on the supporting straps III, II behind the back of the wearer. At a suitable point intermediate the seat strap portion and the loops 22, 23 the thigh straps 28 and 2| carry each a fitting 24, 25, respectively, releasably' connected to the side release device 26, 21, respectively. 28 and 28 are leg straps secured at their one end to the seat strap l2 and carrying at their other end a fitting 30, 3|, respectively, to be permanently connected with the corresponding side release device 26 or 21. The side release devices 30 and 3| are each carried by a strap 32 and 33, respectively,'which may be considered to be continuations'of the leg straps and which at their free end may be permanently connected with the central release device l8. These l8 being shown in Fig.

well as the two legv by means of a straps 32 and 33 serve as support for a wire 35 connecting the side release device with the central release device l8, said wire 35 being preferably protected by a flexible tube 36.

In the central release device shown in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the means for locking the snap hooks I8 of the shoulder straps l3, l4 (see Fig. 1) comprises a rotatable bolting member 5| mounted on a square part of a. rotatable pin and having two pawls 53 and 54 each adapted to engage one of said snap hooks l1, Hi. The snap hooks are inserted into openings 55 of the rim 56 and upper andlower plates 51 and 58 of a casing of the central release device (only one M of the shoulder straps and the appurtenant hook The bolt 5| is manipuiated by a'handle 60 turnably mounted on I. cross pin 6| extending through the square part 52 from the position of rest shown in the drawings into a position mainly at right angle thereto suitable for the manipulation of the handle. The handle 60 is retained in its position of rest by means of a blade spring 62 engaging the upper surface of the handle 60 and mounted on a cross pin 63 journalled in two lugs 64 on the casing of the release device. In this position of rest the handle 60 looks the bolt 5| by a pin 66 thereon engaging an opening in the upper plate 51 of the casing and extending into a recess 68 in the bolt (see Fig. 4)

The means of the central release device for locking the wires 35 controlling the side release devices (see Fig. 1) comprises a sliding member 18 guided in tracks H and having bores 13 for the insertion of the wires 35 which are introduced into said bores 13. through openings I4 in a protecting plate 15. 'Pivoted to the slide is a lever 16 pivoted to a lug 11 of the bolt 5|.

The operation of the central release device will be explained later on.

The side release device according to Figs. 5 and 6 comprises an upper part 80 and a lower part 8| each provided with a claw 82 and 83, respectively, forming an opening for the insertion of the fitting 24 of Fig. 1 or any other type of fastening member. The lower part 8| is secured to a support, in this case the strap 32. The parts 80, 8| are pivotally connected to each other hinge joint 84. The lower part 8| is provided with an ear 85 which engages a corresponding opening in the upper part 80. A bolt 86 engages said ear 85 of the lower part 8| and a bore in the upper part 88 and is actuated. by a spring 81 adapted to hold the bolt in a position inwhich the parts, 8| are locked.- The being actuated.

The side release device shown may also be actuated manually. For this purpose a plate 88 connected with the bolt 86 is slidably mounted in a recess 8| of the upper part 80, said plate having a depression 82 for the engagement of a finger.

According to Fig.8 the side release device comprises a single part 85 having a hook-shaped end 86 and serving as holder for the bolt 86 which in its locked position engages a recess 81 at the outer free end of the hook 86, the fitting 24 according to Fig. 1 or other fastening member engaging said hook 86.

According to Fig. 8 the fitting 24 is adapted to be inserted into a ring I08 which is secured to afinember IOI slidably mounted in' a casing I02. A spring-actuated bolt I03 slides in a groove I04 of the casing II III and is adapted to engage arms, first through the slings formed by the shoulder straps -I3, I4. The parachute pack on the back of which the seat strap I2 is arranged is placed under the seat. The leg straps 28, 20 are carried upwards between the legs together with straps 32, 33, central release device I9 and side release devices 25, 21. 'The snap hooks I'I, I

are introduced into the openings 55 of the central release device and fastened therein by the pawls 53, 5d. The fittings 24, 25 are fastened to the side release devices (claws82, .83 in Figs. 5 and 6, claw 96 in Fig. 7 and ring I00 in Fig. 8). Through the various adjustable buckles the harness is then properly adjusted.

I On landing the handle 60 is grasped and folded upwards so as to be released from the securing spring 62. Therebythe bolt 5I is also releasedfrom its engagement by'the pin 56 of the handle.

Then the handle 60 is turned'in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. By this turning movement the slide 10 is first moved upwards by the lever 16' which causes a pull in the wires 35 controlling-the side release devices 26, 21 resulting in a release of said devices in the following manner. Accord: ing to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the pull in the wire 35 results in the bolt 85releasing the parts 80, 8] of the side release device causing opening of the claws 82, 83 underthe action of the spring 88 so that the corresponding fitting 24 or 25 is released. In the embodiment according. to Fig. '7 a pull in the wire 35 causes the'bolt 85 to be disengaged from the recess 91 of the claw 06. causing likewise releaseof the fitting 2.4 or 25. In the embodiment shown in, Fig. 8 a pull in the wire 35 causes the locking bolt I03 to release. -the.slide IOI which. is disengaged from the casing I02 under'the action of the spring I05 whereby the slide I0I is released together with the fitting The whole ofthe middle part of the harness is then released and falls forwards giving the wearer freedom.

Asdescribed above the wires 35 are released a fraction of a second beforetherelease. of the shoulder straps. Thereby the advantage is attained that the wires are in tension when the power is transmitted through them from the slide I0 of the central release device to the siderelease devices 26, 21 ensuring a reliable release of the latter. A In harnesses having branches from the suspensionstraps to the central release device, the wearer must, after the central lower portion of the harness has been madejree, shake off the upper part of the harness. In harnesses in which the straps entering the central release device are direct continuations of thesupportingstraps the weareris made free at once from the harness.

" The latter type of harness, however, has the drawback that, when theparachutist hangs in the harness, the supporting straps come .close to his head which under unfavourable circumstances by another movement than a turning one.

can cause him injury, especially during the open.-

' ing of the parachute.

In life belts arranged according to the invention the wearer is also free at once. Life belts, however, have thedrawback that the greater part of the opening shock is taken up by the stomach and the breast of wearer, which may cause him injury, especially at drops at high speeds.

Several variations of the invention are possible. Thus the central release device can be operated Further the side release devices need not necessarily be of the constructions described.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In a parachute supporting device, the combination of a body attaching strap having its ends for placement at the front of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate device for each of said leg straps each. comprising a locking member adapted releasably to connect the leg strap to part of the supporting device, a quick release fastening device releasably connecting together the ends of the body attachingstrap which are placed at the front of the wearer, a slide in said quick release fastening device, wires connecting said slide with the locking membersof the leg strap 'holdingdevices,-and means in saidquick release fastening device, whereby upon release of said device first the locking members of the leg straps holding devices are released and then the ends of for placement at the front of the wearer, a pair of .leg straps, a separate device for each of said leg straps each comprising a locking member adapted releasably to connect the leg strap to part of the supporting-device, a quick release fastening device releasably connecting together the ends of the body attaching strap which are placed at the front of thewearer, a slide in said quick release fastening device, wires connecting said slide with the locking members of the leg strap holding devices, means to protect said wires, and means in said quick release-fastening'device, whereby upon release of said device first the locking members of the leg straps holding devices are released and thenthe ends of the body attaching strap are disconnected so as to permit the wearer to free himself from the supporting device.

3. In a parachute supporting device, the combination of a body attaching strap having its ends for placement at the front of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate device for each of said leg straps comprising a locking member .and adapted releasably to connect the leg strap to part of the supporting device, a quick release fastening device releasably connecting the ends of the body attaching strap which are placed at the front of thewearer, and means controlled bysaid quick release fastening device to release 'the locking members of the leg strap holding devices, whereby, upon release of the quick fastening device, the leg strap holding devices are released and the ends of the body attaching strap are'disconnectedso as to permit the wearer] to free himself from the supporting device said leg strap holding devices beingadapted to remain in released position after having been released by the quick release fastening device. 4. In a'parachute supporting device, the-combination of a body attaching strap having its ends for placement at the front of the wearer, a pair of leg straps, a separate device for each of said leg straps adapted releasably to connect the leg strap to part of the supporting device, a quick release fastening device releasably connecting the ends of the body attaching strap which is placed at the front of the wearer, said leg strap holding devices comprising each a spring actuated locking member, a wire connecting each of said locking member with the quick release fastening device,

and means in the latter to control said wires whereby, upon release of the quick release fastening device, the locking members of the leg strap holding devices are released by the wires and the ends of the body attaching strap are disconnected so as to permit the wearer to free himself from the supporting device, said leg strap holding devices being adapted to remain in released position after having been released by the quick reposition to lock the leg strap holding device to said part of the supportingdevice, but to permit said device to remain in released position, and means to connect said locking members to said quick release fastening device, whereby, upon release of the latter, the locking members are released and kept in released position and the ends of the body attaching strap are disconnected, so as to permit the wearer to free himself from the supporting device.

6. A parachute supporting device comprising in combination a body engaging member including shoulder straps and leg straps, a main release device situated at the front of the wearer and including means for releasably engaging the shoulder straps, other release devices releasably connecting the leg straps to portions of the body engaging device and including releasable locking members operatively connected to the main release device, and actuating means in the main release device for first actuating the last mentioned release devices so as to release the leg straps prior to and in timed relation with the release of the shoulder straps.

'7. In a parachute harness including shoulder,

straps and leg straps, at least three release devices, two of which are associated with the leg straps, the remaining release device being associated with the shoulder straps and operatively connected with the first mentioned release devices and including means whereby on operation the first mentioned release devices are operated to release the leg straps immediately prior to the release of the shoulder straps.

STIG OVE CHRISTIAN KUHLEMANN.

CARL HERMAN LUNDHOLM. 

